Method and apparatus for making filter rods



Sept. 27, 1960 M. o. SCHUR METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING FILTER RODS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.

INVENTOR. MILTON O SCHUR -|-I.I- I-|-|I -l&

| ll l WAWM WWWAM WWM IHWHHHI M Sept. 27, 1960 M. o. SCHUR METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING FILTER RODS 3 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Filed Dec.

INVENTOR.

MILTON O. SCHUR Sept. 27, 1960 M. o. SCHUR 2,953,878

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING FILTER RODS Filed Dec. 23, 1957 a Sheets-Sheet s TO CUTTING 6 HEAD a? INVENTOR.

MILTO N O. SCHUR fi ia/ United States Patent Mathieson Chemical. Corporation, a corporation of Virginia" I Filed Dec.;23;.1957,' Ser. No. .70 4,66 9.

9.,Claims.' (Cl. 53 28) The. present. invention relates to the manufacture. of cigarette filter rods and in particular to the manufacture of filter. rods formedcompositely of a plurality of different. filter elements orplugs.

Theterrn filter rods is .used, in the trade-todenote a.

convenient. length offilter material (usually 90 mm.) whicha filter manufacturer supplies to a filter tip cigarette manufacturer. In the course of production of filter tip cigarettes. the, tobacco company cuts, the rod into appropriate size and incorporatesthis shortened ljengthwith agivenlengthoftobacco column to produce a filter tip cigarette. Usually the length of the filterrod' which is ultimately incorporated, into a filter, tip, cigarette, iscomposedof a single filter element.

Frequently the filter element or plug may be spaced from the tobacco column or the filter may be recessed at. the end thereof which the. smoker introduces into his mouth.

The recess may be developed by wrapping stifipapen abouta filter plug or by placing a hollow tube next to the plug andthereafter Wrapping the tube and'the filter plug into apaekage as shown anddescribed in a copending application S=N. 634,341, filed January 15, 19.57; by Mi ;.Schur.

Except for the space or recess noted; above, commercially-successful prior art filter tip cigarettes have been limitedto single element-- filters;

In contrast, the present invention-relatesto the rnanufacture offilter rodscomposed of a-plurality of filter elements so constructed and so arranged that when the tobacco manufacturer-ultimately shortens the rod into a length suitable for incorporation with a column oftobacco to produce a filter tip cigarette, thefinished articl'e includes; a filter having at least two distinct filterelements.

The language filter elements is intended'to be distinct from structural elements ofthe cigarettes such as joint bands; tippaper, wrappers, and the like.

The; language is directed to; any element other than the column of tobaccothrough which asmoker draws air, particulate matter and gaseous components into his mouth in the courseof smoking a cigarette. The expression filter elements is intended toinclude a hollow tube of" the type referred to above. 7

Furthermore, itis not intended that themethod and apparatus of the present invention be limited to two element filters reeognizingthat the principles thereof may extend to filter tip cigarettes having two or more filter elements;

A copending application S .N. 634,342, filed January 15,1957, by M. O. Schur, now US. Patent No. 2,898,; 998, deals. with; a method and apparatus for the manufacture of a. filter rod formed. compositely of plurality of different, filter elements.

Pending application S.N. 578,989., filed April 18', 1956 by-Mr 0,, Schur, now U.S.v Patent No. 2,882,970, oi which application S..N. 634,342. is a continuatiomin-paru, also Ce 2,953,878 Patented Sept, 2], 1960 s o e a. cheme or a u .a w ns, filte rod" a m compositely of a plurality of ditferent filter, elements;

Application S.N. 634,342 includesthe disclosureof a novel scheme for shufiling. filter elements in accordance with a predeterminedpatternprior to packaging the elements. in a r The present application is directed to an alternative met o a d pp ra o ha l n nd h p c a inginto a continuous rod the shuflied elements produced bytheinvention of continuation inspart application S;N. 634,342.

.In said. copending continuation-impart application, hereinafter referred, to, as said continuing application,

there. is shownand described a scheme for continuously:

feedingdifierent, single elem ntfilter rods, specifically Whiterods and gray rods, from two dilferent sources into circumferentially arranged; pockets formed in rotatable cylindrical I drums disposed individual to each rod source;

Thepocketsarranged generally parallel t9 the. drum axis of-rotation, receivefilter. rods, one rod for each pocket, as. the. drums. are: rotated,

While the rods are disposed upon their respective drumsthey are cut to. shorter. lengths. Thereafter the whiterodsandthe gray rods,,in their cut condition, are. deposited alternately upon a receiving or transfer drum inwellknown fashion." On thetransfer drums. alternate pocketscontainwhite rodswhile the intermediate pockets carry. gray. rods. 1

Next; the; cut. rods. are; deposited. upon a shuffling drurn. wherethe shuffiing drum is. composed of a, group of; relatively. movable. wheel-likemembers, sandwiched together sideby. side soas to be ofthe same. general.

overall dimensions and configuration; as the transfer drum. Each, wheel of the shu'flling. drum has a wheel or thickness corresponding to the short or. cut lengths. of the filterrods. so that the overall Width of. the drum contains suflicient wheels to accommodateall the short lengths, of a given White or gray. rod.

Shufliing the white. and gray. rods is accomplished, by rotating, alternate. wheels at different speeds. Thus, a group 0t wheels comprising the firstfthird and, fifth wheels ofthe sandwich of. wheels forming the shuffling drum rotate at one speed while a second group comp is-v ing: the; second, fourth. and, sixth, wheels rotate at a slightly dilferent speed, By means of suitable gearing the speed;d ifierentialbetween the two. groups. of Wheels is; selectedso that whilerotating. the wheels. through a given number of radians onegroupof; wheels overtakes or is; angularly phased withrespect," to, the other group.

in; cut condition, are alternately depositedv uponthe shufling roll, thephasing of the several groupsofj wheels such thata perfectly aligned pocket is. in. position toreceive-v thecomplete gray or White 11nd,. as: the. case may be. As the composite shufiling. drum is. rotated awayfrom the point. of deposit, alternate. Wheels begin to overtake intermediate wheels and angular phasing occurs; When theshufllingv drum has rotated througha: p e ed num r rad an an li ned-row. of pockets again; develops ata discharge point Howeyer, at the discharge. point-- the row of. aligned; pocket-s now carrysegmental rods where the segments. thereof are alternately white and gray or viceversa.

Through suitable gearingalternate wheels carrying segments of a givenrod have been. carried. forwardinto alignment with segments of a different r od carried: by,- the intermediate wheels to. accomplish. shufiiinggf Thepresent invention deals; with, a. scheme for receive inggroups of loosearod. elements orsegments; shufilert in QQQIdance. with. the; principles. of said continuing applie cation: and packaging. the shufiied elements'intp a coin- Fonexample, at. thepoint at which the. different rods,

posite multi-element filter rod. The terms filter elemen plug, or segment are used interchangeably.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for continuously making a continuous filter rod formed compositely of a plurality of difierent filter elements.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel method for making multiple element filter rods of predetermined lengths.

An apparatus embodying certain features of the present invention may comprise an elongated trough having a longitudinal through slot formed therein, a rotatable transfer drum for depositing groups of assorted filter elements into said trough, a tube adjacent said trough and having a through slot communicating with the interior of the tube, sweep means engageable with both said slots for moving said groups of elements from the trough into the tube to form a continuous line of elements, jacketing means including a continuously advancing paper tape disposed adjacent the discharge end of the tube for receiving and enveloping the continuous line of assorted elements into a continuous rod, one-way clutch means for precluding motion of said line of elements in a predetermined direction and cutter means synchronized with the rotation of the drum for cutting the continuous rod into lengths.

A process practiced by the operation of the present invention may comprise the steps of depositing groups of assorted filter elements upon a receiving member in sequential fashion, intermittently sweeping the groups out of the receiving member to form a continuously advancing line of elements, forming a continuous wrapper about the elements to develop a continuous filter rod and cutting the rod into predetermined lengths and at points along said continuous rod so that the composition of the lengths bear a predetermined relationship with respect to the composition of said groups.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the succeeding specification when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side view of a portion of a machine embracing the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of the machine of Fig. l as viewed in the plane of the line 2-2;

Fig. 3 is a similar view as observed in the plane of the line 3-3;

Fig. 4 is a continuation of Fig. 1 and together therewith represents a complete side view of a machine embracing the principles of the present invention;

Figs. 5 and 6 show, schematically, the drive mechanism of the machine of Figs. 1 and 4.

.Referring now to the drawings and in particular to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, there is shown a transfer drum, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, rotatably mounted upon a shaft 11. As is more apparent in Fig. 2, the drum, formed with pockets loaded with shufi'led groups of filter elements 12,,is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow.

Since the composition or structure of thefilter elements, per se, does not form a part of the present invention, it is deemed sufiicient for purposes of explaining the present invention to state that a typical shuflied or assorted group of elements disposed in a given pocket 15 may consist of elements labelled A (designated by dash shade lines) and elements labelled B (designated by the substantially continuous shade lines) as shown in Fig. 1.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein, each pocket 15 contains 3 A elements and 3 B elements, alternately arranged.

Obviously, the sequence, shufiied arrangement or the variety and number of different elements may take any desired form or pattern without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, for purposes of this specification the term lassorted is intended to 4 mean any linear or side-by-side arrangement of two or more different filter elements.

As the drum 10 rotates in the direction shown, the filter groups 12 composed of alternately arranged elements A and B are deposited sequentially upon a receiving member or trough 13 by a cam actuated discharge bar or ejector 14. A shoe 15a prevents the elements from falling out of the drum prematurely. The shoe terminates in a lip 15b which acts as a sidewall for the trough.

The discharged group of filter elements are received in a recess 16, having a generally semi-circular configuration in cross section, formed in the trough. A longitudinal slot 17 communicating with the recess 16 provides sliding clearance for lugs 18 pivotally mounted to a link chain 19.

The chain and lugs act as a sweeping means or a conveyor and operate in timed relationship with respect to the rotational speed of the drum 10 to clear the trough of each group of elements after the group is deposited therein.

The lugs 18 move the groups of elements to the left as viewed in Fig. 1 into a collector tube 21, sometimes referred to hereinafter as a collector means, where the groups of elements are accumulated in abutting relationship as is apparent from the portion of the tube broken away in Fig. 1. 1

The abutting elements form a continuous line of elements advancing to the left as the lugs 18 intermittently, but continuously, sweep new groups of elements into contact with a group previously swept into the tube.

The full length of the tube 21 is provided with an elongated slot 22 communicating with the interior of the tube and provides clearance for the lugs 18 and a one-way clutch means indicated generally by the reference numeral 23. The one-way clutch 23 consists of a link chain 24 carrying pawls 26. Note that the pawls are provided with an inclined face terminating in a knife edge 27. In a manner which will become more apparent hereinafter, the knife edges 27 act to preclude motion of the continuous line of filter elements to the right. For the present, it is sufficient to say that if one were to slide the continuous line of filter elements A and B to the left (Fig. 1) relative to the knife edges the elements would meet with no resistance and would readily slide over the pawls. In contrast, however, if one undertook to move the line of elements to the right the knife edges, by virtue of their sharp points, would lightly indent, cut or nick the elements providing sufficient resistance to stop motion in that direction.

Immediately adjacent the tube 21 is a conventional paper wrapping attachment indicated generally by the reference numeral 28 into which a continuously advancing ribbon of cigarette paper 29 is introduced, suitably backed up or supported by an endless belt 31 in well known fashion. The reference numeral 32 designates a glue applicator for sealing the paper into a continuous tube about the continuously advancing filter elements thereby developing a composite rod. The reference numeral 33 indicates the fully enclosed package of continuously advancing filter elements defining an endless rod while the reference numeral 34 denotes a well known cutter device operative to cut the continuous or endless rod into predetermined lengths.

Since the assorted filter elements are received from the transfer drum 10 in intermittent fashion and at a predetermined rate, it is obviously necessary to adjust the speed of the wrapping operation including the belt 31 to a rate which permits the groups to form a continuous line within the tube 21 (as is apparent in Figs. 1 and 4) without unduly compressing the elements or developing gaps between elements. Stated otherwise, the filter plugs must be supplied at the same rate at which they are converted into rod.

This adjustment is usually accomplished by operating the wrapping portion of the machine at a linear velocity substantially equal to the product of the number of groups of elements being advanced linearly by the sweep means per unit of time multiplied by the length of each group.

Inherently, there is an appreciable amount of friction or resistance offered to the advancing line of filter elements as it enters the wrapping portion of the machine where it is necessary for the line of elements to pass through a garuiture tongue indicated by the reference numeral 36. In passing through the tongue 36, the filter elements are moving at substantially the same linear speed as that of the wrapping paper.

It is noted (Fig. 4) that the garniture tongue is formed with an internal taper which presents a gradually decreasing diameter and thus develops a gradually increas ing frictional resistance to the advancing line of filter components. The lugs 18 on the sweep chain 19 are usually spaced apart a distance in excess of the length of a given group of filter elements dropped from the drum 10. Thus, the push of the lugs 18 upon the column of elements is intermittent and there is a space or gap between adjacent groups of elements initially swept into the tube 21. That is, the push of any one lug 18 as it sweeps a group of elements to the left from the trough 13 ceases as it travels around sprocket 20 and there is no push applied to the column for a short interval until the next group of elements is brought into abutment therewith by the next succeeding lug 18. During the interval wherein 'there is noforward push or drive (to the left as viewed in Fig. l) exerted upon the column of elements by a lu'g 18, there must be a supplemental propulsion medium to keep the column moving and to keep all elements in abutment. During this interval, slight motion may be developed in the column by the continuously advancing wrapper paper.

Unfortunately the friction between the column of filter elements: and. the wrapping paper is not suflicient to overcome the resistance generated as the elements proceed through the tongue.

Hence, because of the momentary loss of driving force and because of the frictional relationship just described, there is a tendency for the column of elements or plugs to cease their forward motion for an instant in the region 7 of. the tongue until a fresh assembly of components is pushed. forward against the line of. elements by a succeeding sweep chain lug 18.

Obviously, such a hesitation in the advance of the abutted column of filter elements would result in a gap in. the column. A gap would not only render the finished rod useless as an article of manufacture but succeeding groups of filter elements swept from the trough 13 could notbe accommodated in. the tube 21.

To preclude the occurrence of Y gaps, the one-way clutch means 23' is provided. Through suitable gearing the chain 24 carrying the knife edges 27 is driven in the direction shown by the arrow at a speed which is substantially the same as the speed of advance of the paper 29.

While the drum and the sweep chain 19 are geared to provide filter elements in sufficient quantities to produce a continuous line of abutted elements with little or no compressing or spacing, the chain 24 is geared to move along with the line of abutted elements. In the event that the friction encountered at the garniture tongue 36 tends to slow down or stop motion of the column of filter elements relative to the chain 24, the knife edges 27 carried by the chain are effective to resist and check the motion by virtue of the friction between the knife edges and the exterior surface of the elements. Thus, the clutch means insures a continuous line of elements being fed into the wrapping machine and further insures the production of filter rods having no spaces or gaps between elements.

Incidentally, the column of filter elements is free to overtravel the clutch chain to the left. In fact, when the lugs 18 are propelling the groups of elements to close thegaps between groups, the elements move momentarily at a speed in excess of the speed of the clutch chain in the region of the right end (Fig 1) of the chain..

Because the rod is composed of a plurality of different elements, it is highly important that the continuous rod be cut to predetermined lengths, such as the aforemen= tioned mm. lengths, at a predetermined point along the rod. For this purpose a rotating disk-likeknife 37 mounted on a rotating head 38 is provided for cutting the rod into lengths as it emerges from the wrapping unit of the machine. Preferably it is desirable to make the cut at the center or midpoint of a particular element. For purposes of explanation, assume that it is desired to cut the element A at the midpoint as shown in Fig. 4 and assume further that this cut must be made sequentially in intermittent fashion to produce 90 mm. length rods. Note that the actual cutting occurs between the ledgers 30 and 35.

Obviously there must be coordination between the composition of the assorted rods deposited by the drum 10 and the operation of the knife 37 to insure that a given length of rod is cut with tolerable limits from the midpoint of a given filter element (here element A) making up the rod.

A reference to Figs. 5 and 6 illustrates the manner in which synchronization is accomplished between the cutting element 37 and the supply drum 10. A motor M is connected by means of suitable belts and gearing to rotate cutting head 38 at a predetermined speed. By means of suitable gearing, power from motor M is supplied to differential D and thence to gear box G. Shaft 39 emerging from the gear box is drivingly connected to shaft 11 carrying the supply drum 10. At a suitable ratio shaft 42 supplies power to shaft 43 inturn operative to drive one-way clutch means 23 and sweep chain 19; the connection between one-way clutch means and the sweep chain being accomplished by transmission chain 44.

In order to accomplish suitable phasing between the knife 37 and the supply drum 10 for regulating the point of'cutti ng the rod into lengths, the differential D is manually adjustable.

By virtue of the differential it is possible to advance or retard the supply of the shufiled groups of filter elements (and thus advance or retard the advances of the finished rod) with respect to the cutting element to insure cutting the rod into predetermined lengths at a predetermined point with respect to a particular element contained in the rod. For example, it is entirely possible by means of the differential adjustment to make the cut in the continuously advancing rod at a point corresponding to the junction between filter elements A and B or at the midpoint of element B or at any desired point with respect to the composition of the continuous rod that may be desired.

Obviously, a variety of modifications and embodiments of the described apparatus and process may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for making a multi-element filter comprising a receiving element, supply means for depositing assorted filter elements into said receiving element, a tube adjacent said receiving elements wherein said elements are assembled in an abutting relationship, sweep means for moving said elements into said tube to form, a continuous line of elements, jacketing means including a continuous ly advancing paper tape disposed adjacent the tube for enveloping the line of elements into continuous rod, and clutch means for precluding motion of said line of elements relative to the paper tape in a predetermined direc- 7 tion.

2. An apparatus for making filter rods havinga plurality of different filter elements therein comprising a receiving trough, supply means for depositing groups of assorted filter elements into said trough, an apertured member adjacent said trough wherein said elements are received and assembled in a continuous abutting relationship, sweep means for moving said elements into said apertured member to form an advancing line of elements, jacketing means including a continuously advancing paper tape disposed adjacent the apertured member for enveloping the line of elements into a continuous rod and one-way clutch means for precluding motion of said line of elements at a linear speed less than that of the tape While permitting the line of elements to overrun the tape it necessary.

3. An apparatus for making multi-element filter rods comprising an elongated receiving member, a rotatable transfer drum for intermittently depositing groups of filter elements into said receiving member, a tube adjacent said receiving element wherein said elements are assembled in a continuous line, sweep means for cyclically moving said groups of elements into said tube to form an advancing line of elements, jacketing means including a continuously advancing paper tape disposed adjacent the tube for enveloping the line of elements into a continuous rod, one way clutch means for precluding motion of said line of elements relative to said paper in a predetermined direction, and cutter means synchronized with the rotation of the transfer drum for cutting said continuous rod into lengths.

4. A method of manufacturing filter rods comprising the steps of depositing groups of assorted filter elements upon a receiving member, intermittently sweeping the groups out of the receiving member to form a continuous line of elements, forming a continuous wrapper about the line of elements to develop a continuous rod and cutting the rod into predetermined lengths at points therealong so that the composition of the lengths bear a predetermined relationship with respect to the composition of said groups.

5. A method of manufacturing multi-element filter rods comprising the steps of depositing shufiied filter elements upon a receiving member, intermittently sweeping the elenients out of the receiving member to form an advancing line of elements, forming a continuous wrapper about the line of elements to develop a continuous rod, maintaining the advance of the wrapper and the advance of the elements substantially uniform, and cutting the rod into predetermined lengths at points therealong so that the composition of the lengths bear a predetermined relationship with respect to the composition of said rod.

6. A method of manufacturing multi-element filter rods comprising the steps of depositing groups of shuffled filter elements upon a receiving member, intermittently sweeping the groups of elements out of the receiving member to form an advancing line of elements, forming a continuous wrapper about the line of elements to develop a continuous rod, maintaining the advance of the wrapper and the advance of the elements substantially uniform and precluding relative motion between the wrapper and the line of elements.

7. In an apparatus for making a continuous multielement filter rod at a given rate, collector means having a discharge end for assembling a plurality of elements in axial alignment, sweep means for moving said elements into said collector in intermittent fashion, said sweep means being operable to develop in said collector an intermittently moving line of abutted elements, wrapping means including a moving wrapper disposed at the discharge end of said collector means and operable to advance with and wrap said abutted elements at said given rate, and, clutch means cooperating with said collector means for precluding relative motion between said wrapper in a predetermined direction and said elements efiective to insure wrapping a continuously advancing line of abutted elements.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the clutch means is a one-way clutch.

9. An apparatus for continuously making a multi-element filter rod at a given rate comprising a collector means for receiving a plurality of aligned filter elements, sweep means having a discharge end for moving said elements into said collector means to develop a continuous line of elements, said sweep means being operable to move said elements intermittently, said sweep means being effective to move said elements at a rate in excess of said given rate, wrapping means including a wrapper movable at said given rate disposed adjacent said discharge end and operable to move with and wrap said elements in continuous fashion, and clutch means cooperating with said collector means and operable to move with said wrapper effective to preclude relative motion in a predetermined direction between the wrapper and the elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 21,007 Davidson Feb. 21, 1939 2,172,804 Molins Sept. 12, 1939 2,219,491 Podmore Oct. 29, 1940 2,236,579 Rundell Apr. 1, 1941 2,291,890 Edwards Aug. 4, 1942 2,604,099 Policansky July 22, 1952 2,667,877 Molins et al. Feb. 2, 1954 2,695,618 Policansky Nov. 30, 1954 2,703,089 Molins et a1. Mar. 1, 1955 2,742,907 Policansky Apr. 24, 1956 2,748,776 Molins June 5, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 778,044 Great Britain July 3, 1959 670,422 Great Britain Apr. 16, 1952 447,779 Great Britain May 26, 1936 

